Private Lesson With Ryan Ackerman

$75.00

Ryan Ackerman with Einstein the cat

Description

Ryan Ackerman offers 1-hour private chess lessons in your personal video conference or in the convenience of your home ($25 travel fee).

This is dedicated one-to-one instruction to improve your problem-solving skills.

Coach Ryan believes in helping students decide what they learn. Early on in each lesson students are prompted to map out what specific items to work on, as seen in my one-minute YouTube introduction. Students can learn strategy, tactics, basic opening plays, endgames, prepare for their next tournament, or work on any other area!

To learn more about lesson time with Coach Ryan, watch his YouTube demo videos.

How It Works

  1. Choose Your Slot: Schedule a time that fits you on Coach Ryan’s Lesson Calendar.
  2. Secure Your Spot: Pay here on Orlov Chess Academy website for the number of lessons you reserved.
  3. Prepare for Your Session: Have ready your questions, notation sheets, and any games or material you want to review.

Registration closes three hours before each time slot.

We use Chess.com with our online lessons. You can connect with Ryan’s coach account here.

Chess.com accounts are free and you can join our Orlov Chess Academy Club for games and friendly tournaments.

Private lessons are for single individuals. As such, the sibling discount is not available.

Online and In-Person Options

  • Online Lessons: Conducted via Chess.com with Ryan’s Coach Account for seamless interactive play.
  • In-Person Lessons: Available with a $25 travel fee.

Curriculum

Be proactive! This session is for you, customized for you, and for you alone. Pick something you want to learn or bring your recorded games for assessment and improvement.

Send questions to info@chessplayer.com or call 206-387-1253

Some Ideas for Activities

Not sure where to start? Want to motivate your child to try lessons with Coach Ryan?

Encourage your student to explore this refined list of tailored activities to pique their interest.

1️⃣ Deep Dive Analysis of Their Five Games
We review five of their own games to pinpoint strengths and uncover growth areas. With personalized guidance, they’ll gain a deeper understanding of their unique play style and tactics, helping them reinforce what’s working while sharpening their strategic vision.

2️⃣ High-Impact Live Help Game
In this interactive experience, they play a live game on Chess.com, while I provide leading questions that subtly guide their moves. This approach has shown incredible results. A former student, Michael, prepared with eight live help games before his state championship, qualifying for state with a 3.5 out of 5 score. This exercise hones real-time decision-making skills and deepens board awareness.

3️⃣ Inspiring Master Game Analysis
We kick off with a breakdown of a truly inspiring game played by a master. I reveal strategic decisions, powerful tactics, and provide relatable insights to spark curiosity and passion for advanced chess concepts.

4️⃣ Odd Game Leaderboard – Blindfolded Fun
For a light-hearted yet challenging activity, I play a blindfolded game, keeping it fun with semi-amusing commentary. They attempt to outplay me while I strike a careful balance between game focus and engaging them directly. Among my various activities, this is the most requested by students—perfect for sparking enjoyment in learning.

5️⃣ Puzzle Rating Pursuit
In this intense puzzle-solving session, I introduce a specific thinking model to focus on for the day. Over a 20-minute period, they apply this “lens” to every puzzle, enhancing their focus and efficiency. Watching their puzzle rating climb on Chess.com, with real-time feedback, is a thrill and is often my personal favorite to teach.

Why Choose Coach Ryan?

Ryan Ackerman is passionate about both playing and teaching chess. With 12 years of coaching experience, he brings depth, patience, and enthusiasm to every session. Ryan’s achievements include:

  • Spokane City Champion (2022-2023)
  • 1820 USCF Rating
  • 2011 Rapid Rating

Whether you’re just starting out or preparing for tournaments, Ryan’s coaching style is focused on building strong fundamentals, sharpening problem-solving skills, and mastering advanced strategies.

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